Video shows Face Unlock on Galaxy Nexus tricked by photo

Ever since the announcement of Face Unlock as part of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (even with the trouble getting it to work at the announcement demo,) people have wondered if it would be possible to trick the system using a photo of the person. The rumor was originally dispelled by Tim Bray, an Android Developer Advocate, who claimed that the system couldn't be hacked with a photo. Now, there's video that may show the hack in full effect.

A reporter from SoyaCincau has posted video showing Face Unlock being gamed by a photo of himself on a Galaxy Note. The reporter does note that Google has warned that Face Unlock is not as secure as a regular pin or password, and that a "similar looking person" could unlock your device, but Google has said that using a picture would not work. The video shows the reporter unlocking the Galaxy Nexus three times using the photo on the Note.

There is a bit of skepticism around the video, because the reporter says that he programmed the Nexus to "recognize his picture". The reporter chalked that up to misspeaking, and added a link to the original video when he set up Face Unlock using his actual face. Still, it seems that Face Unlock is not as secure as some would have hoped, and if Google is admitting as much, that may mean the Android team is already working on ways to update the feature and make it more secure. We'll have to see on that though.

If you find the phone on the street, or perhaps in a bar... how in the world are you going to use their Facebook? Do you even know their name to look them up? Do you even know if that's the social networking site they belong to?.

And anyone that has direct contact with you and/or knows you that wants to break into your phone probably has the access/info to break into more then just your phone already.

I agree. I have the Motorola Atrix and the fingerprint scanner works FLAWLESSLY. I have never had an issue with it. I can unlock my device while driving without looking at it. There is also a great Android App I use called Gotya, that uses the front facing camera on your smartphone to secretly take a snapshot of someone that unsuccessfully tries to access your device and emails the picture, time and GPS coordinates of that failed access attempt.

I'll stick with my current security measures until the facial recognition guys get the kinks worked out of it.

is this gonna stop anyone from getting this phone....NO.....if someone wants to get into your phone that bad they will..... that's why you have apps like "Audio manager" doing so well (also known as hide it pro)

lol. for the average person its secure. just dont get drunk n pass out or your friends could easily break into it.. lol. most people use the same number codes for everything so is 1 more secure than the other? maybe, but not by much for most. pattern lock.. ftw!

not really.. the vast majority of people use important dates like a childs birthday or an anniversary. People tend to put that info online so it doesnt take but a minute or 2 for a would be hacker to have a few viable codes ready to try.

@remix - some people have Internet banking/brokerage/other financial data passwords on their handset. That kind of info getting into the wrong hands would kind of rain on the handset owner's parade.... :-)

@protozeloz - services such as Lookout Premium backup everything that is on your handset. Restoring to the prior day's condition is pretty trivial. The only loss would be whatever was entered locally that didn't get backed up before the handset was messed with. Although if a handset owner were dumb enough to leave their handset unattended so that someone could mess with the password and wipe the handset, they deserve to experience the frustration of recovering their handset. Just have to experience it once, then priorities get re-ordered. :-)

So far, wipe after n failed attempts seems to be the most secure model.

You people read into this stuff too much.........
Heres a perfect point, for all you android fans out there ;)
you can argue that the Samsung Galaxy Note and Nexus Cameras are SOO GOOD AND CLEAR, that the picture taken is like the real deal , lol

take that iphone 4s.....
just thought that was funny

but yeah truly tho, unless the person who stole your phone off the bar, off a counter , in a spot you left it, honestly has photos of you , which i doubt, why would it matter..........
now if you are sneaking around, and ur girl or man finds it ...uh oh

The Atrix seems to be the only one, so far with a secure locking mechanism, fingerprint scanner. I have one and o easily unlock it in school inside my pocket and turn down my volume, because I forget all the time.

So basically what you are telling me is that if i wanted my facial unlock to be secure i have to carry a pic of a person who no one knows in my pocket at all times!! oh well nice try Google please work more on UI and leave the facial detection software to the DOD.

All content (phone reviews, news, specs, info), design and layouts are Copyright 2001-2015 phoneArena.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or in any form or medium without written permission is prohibited! Privacy . Terms of use . Cookies . Team